Earthy Tones

Dress: a hand-me-down

Sometimes, the best things are the clothes that you usually wouldn't buy for yourself. In this case, I probably would never have glanced twice at this dress in a store, but getting it as a hand-me-down is almost like a challenge. I usually don't buy too many brownish colored garments because I think it blends in a little too well with my skin tone, but I can't help but get over how weirdly fun this print is; like a mineral, animal-print type deal. 

Photos by Ken

SoCo Mix

The other week, Ken and I headed over to SoCo, this plaza of sorts that opened up next to my house not too long ago. It's unique, to say the least. Filled with artisan shops, tasty food joints, cute little boutiques, succulents upon succulents, and complete with a Farmer's Market twice a week, it's the perfect place to spend the afternoon. Considering how it used to be a dilapidated collection of nearly-abandoned furniture stores, it's awesome how many people come now. Check it out here!

The ham and jam sandwich is mighty fine. 

Homemade gelato is SO GOOD. 

Photos by Ken and I 

Lions and Tigers and Bears and Foxes

Shirt: H&M via Buffalo Exchange [$3]

Skirt: F21 [$6]

Sneakers: old Vans

New camera pictures! It was an animal theme for the day. Although this H&M tank is being held apart by two heroic strands of thread, I love the fox print so much that I pray for the best every time I pull the thing through the arms and over the head. This leopard print skirt has been pretty abused in my closet too; I wore it every other day last summer and tore a hole the size of a football in it in the winter. After some finger stabbing and multiple re-dos, I finally stitched the hole back up. Thankfully, the print is busy enough to hide the fact that I did a horrendous job. Now it's off to Arizona to visit family, watch the Diamondbacks, eat a ton of delicious food, and die slowly of heat!

Photos by Ken

Canon Rebel T3i

The last blog about regular posting? Yeah, sorry about that. I have more pictures on my mom's camera but I'm too lazy to go find it, so here are a smattering of pictures taken with my new crowning jewel! I've spent the last couple of days at the beach, so I'll get those pictures up and running eventually too. I'm still not so good at this blogging stuff, but I guess that's the whole fun of it. Enjoy some very amateur shots!

Pastel Paisley

Blouse: Urban Outfitters [clothing exchange]

Dress: old F21 [maybe 5 years ago? $17-ish?]

Sandals: Urban Outfitters [$10]

When I don't feel like being too exposed or constricted, I throw a thin and breezy blouse on top of any outfit and call it a day. Sometimes the results are rather unpleasant, but I rather like this combo and don't think I'll be stopping any time soon. Sorry for all the downcast glances, I'll have some more cheery pictures soon. I have since acquired a new camera (!!!) and need to get my older pictures up in order to break out the new ones, so expect some regular posting coming up! Unless I get lazy, which may definitely happen. But alas, it's summer and I'm gonna stick with that excuse. Time to go to Huntington Beach and build some sand castles!

Photos by The Dais.

Palos Verde

Shirt: Target [$6]

Shorts: Old Navy [$12]

Sneaks: old Vans

The other week my family and Ken drove took a day trip around LA. After marveling at the Space Shuttle Endeavour, shoveling down all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ as fast as possible, and taking inside streets because traffic was horrendous, we stopped by Palos Verde. And man oh man was it worth it. Palos Verde is one of those places that I've always heard mentioned, nodded my head in recognition, and then went along on my merry 'ol way with thoughts of visiting some time but never actually summoning up the gusto to do so. It reminded me so much of driving down PCH last summer from San Francisco and marveling at how beautiful the world was how blessed I am to live in California. New York is home for now, but California will always be home base. 

On another note: Happy Birthday to my older sister Mary who turns 21 today! Granted she's currently beside the Black Sea and in transit to Moldova where she may or may not have an internet connection, but still!

Photos mostly by Daisy. I think. 

Pacific

Roaming the hills of Palos Verdes on a fine summer day. More pictures soon! Next up for today: hiking  Peter's Canyon and consuming meals with copious amounts of teriyaki sauce,